Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
Lord Strathclyde Excerpts(12 years, 5 months ago)
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The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Strathclyde)
My Lords, this year, 2012, marks the happy occasion of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. My right honourable friend the Leader of the House of Commons and I are today able to announce that an early celebration of this extraordinary anniversary will be the attendance of the two Houses on Her Majesty in Westminster Hall for the presentation of humble Addresses on the morning of Tuesday 20 March. I will move the necessary Motion for an Address a few days earlier on a date to be arranged through the usual channels. The ceremonial arrangements will be organised by the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in the usual way. I hope that the House joins me in looking forward to an important and happy event.
Planning: Naseby Wind Farm
Lord Strathclyde Excerpts(12 years, 5 months ago)
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The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Strathclyde)
My Lords, I feel we should hear from my noble friend Lady Parminter.
Business of the House
Lord Strathclyde Excerpts(12 years, 5 months ago)
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Lord Strathclyde
That the debates on the motions in the names of Lord Wills and Baroness Smith of Basildon set down for today shall each be limited to 2½ hours.
Immigration (Biometric Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2012
Lord Strathclyde Excerpts(12 years, 5 months ago)
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Lord Strathclyde
That the draft order, rules and regulations be referred to a Grand Committee.
Local Better Regulation Office (Dissolution and Transfer of Functions, Etc.) Order 2012
Lord Strathclyde Excerpts(12 years, 5 months ago)
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European Union (Definition of Treaties) (Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement) Order 2011
Lord Strathclyde Excerpts(12 years, 5 months ago)
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Lord Campbell-Savours
My Lords, before we go down this route, could we just remember that we have a duty to secure the security of this institution? Difficult decisions have had to be taken and we should be very careful about rescinding them.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Strathclyde)
My Lords, I am well aware, as are most Members of the House, that this week there have been some difficulties in entering the car park. I know that Black Rod has received many representations—I expect that, even after today, he will continue to receive many further representations—and I urge noble Lords who believe that they can suggest improvements commensurate with providing the security of the House, as the noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours, has pointed out, to do so as early as possible.
I will have discussions with the Chairman of Committees and members of the relevant committees that made these decisions to see whether the review can be speeded up. I understand the difficulties that have taken place.
Lord Peston
I think I am right in saying that we are still a self-governing House and therefore that what my noble friend has asked the Leader of the House to do is a perfectly reasonable request. However, the Leader of the House has shown no sign that he intends to respond to that request. I sit on the Joint Committee on Security. This matter is not being driven by the security of this House but by the other place. There is no pressure for this from this House whatever. The Leader of the House has been asked to find some space so that colleagues can at least express their opinions. This is all he is being asked to do. The people involved in this think this is a done deal and have no intention of backing off no matter what the experiment shows. It is therefore vital that the Leader of the House should tell us that he will find space early next week so that we can all express our opinions.
Lord Pearson of Rannoch
My Lords, I am sure this has already occurred to any would-be terrorist, but what do the security arrangements of the House do about the river and the boats that go up and down it? My friend hired one of those boats the other day and was free to take suitcases on and off as she wished. If we cannot do anything about that, why do we carry on making entrance to this place more complicated and inconvenient?
Lord Strathclyde
I am not sure that the Floor of the House is the best place to discuss matters affecting the safety and security of the House.
In answer to the noble Lord, Lord Peston, nothing I said in my earlier reply was supposed to be discourteous to the noble Lord, Lord Barnett. This House is self-regulating. The decision was taken by various committees of the House that would not have been able to do so without its agreement. Perhaps the review could be done more quickly than in three months. Those noble Lords who have suggestions and ideas as to how we could improve the situation should write to Black Rod—or, indeed, raise it in their party meetings, which might be a better place than having a debate in this House.
Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (Dissolution) Order 2012
Lord Strathclyde Excerpts(12 years, 5 months ago)
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Jobseeker's Allowance (Jobseeking and Work for Your Benefit) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2012
Lord Strathclyde Excerpts(12 years, 5 months ago)
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European Union (Definition of Treaties) (Republic of Korea Framework Agreement) Order 2012
Lord Strathclyde Excerpts(12 years, 6 months ago)
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Lord Strathclyde
That the draft orders and regulations be referred to a Grand Committee.
Lord Pearson of Rannoch
My Lords, why are the Government so keen on all these referendums on the comparatively minor matter of who becomes the mayor in these cities while they refuse a referendum on the far greater issue of whether we stay in the clutches of the corrupt octopus in Brussels or leave them?
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Strathclyde)
My Lords, in reply to the noble Lord, Lord Grocott, it is entirely in keeping with normal practice that I as Leader of the House should move these Motions. Secondly, I would not have put them on the Order Paper unless they had been agreed with the usual channels with their wholehearted support. Thirdly—this is perhaps a point for the whole House to remember—although these Motions are debated in the Grand Committee, they come back to the House for agreement and they do not come into law until that time.
As for the noble Lord, Lord Pearson, in the spirit of Christmas, it is always good to hear him. I hope he has a very quiet and restful time over the next two or three weeks, and if he wishes to have an even longer restful and quiet time, I am sure that would be appreciated by most of us, particularly those who work on European business.
Motions agreed.
Standing Orders (Public Business)
Lord Strathclyde Excerpts(12 years, 6 months ago)
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Lord Strathclyde
That the standing orders relating to public business be amended as follows:
Standing Order 37 (Balloted and time-limited debates)
Replace paragraph (1) with the following: “If a balloted debate or a time-limited debate is continuing at the end of the time allotted to it, the Clerk at the Table shall rise and thereupon the Lord Speaker shall either put the Question forthwith or ask the mover of the Motion whether or not he wishes to withdraw it. If the mover does not ask leave to withdraw, or if leave to withdraw is refused, the Lord Speaker shall put the Question forthwith.”
In paragraph (2), leave out “a balloted debate or”.